A Learning Curve
The reliance on smartphones for interactions by Gen Z leads to a learning curve with the development of necessary social skills for interacting with people in person. This can be seen with Gen Z’s difficulty in developing and understanding critical nonverbal communication skills, discussed by Gabriela Riciardi with Quartz," Younger workers also need help with nonverbal cues—the kind that help you keep eye contact, express through gestures, and read a room.”(Ricardi 2023), proving the curve with Gen Zs skills social skills in the workplace.
The comfort and control provided when communicating through their phones and technologies can become a crutch for people leading to antisocial tendencies. This leads to an avoidance of in-person interactions. This furthers the severity of gen zs weakened social skills. This avoidance and subsequent weakening of social skills can have cascading effects on mental health and well-being. Without the nuanced understanding and practice of nonverbal cues and face-to-face interactions, Gen Z may find themselves feeling more anxious and less confident in social situations. This anxiety and lack of confidence can lead to a cycle of avoidance, where the comfort of digital interactions is preferred, further limiting opportunities to develop essential interpersonal skills.
